Australian Mist Cat: Characteristics, Personality, and Breed Information

Australian Mist
Overview
Characteristics
Compare Breed
Origin
Australia
Height
8.0"-10.0"
Adult weight
7-14 pounds
Life Span
12-16 years
Temperament
Friendly, playful, affectionate, family-oriented
Other Names
Spotted Mist
Group
Medium-sized short-haired
Price
$700-$1,000
Affection Level
? Breeds with a high affection level want to give and receive a lot of attention, while less-affectionate breeds are not as interested in petting and snuggles.
0 100%
80%
Activity Level
? Breeds with high activity levels will engage more in active play and demand more space and attention.
0 100%
50%
Pet-Friendly
? How well the breed tends to get along with cats, dogs, and other pets.
0 100%
80%
Kid-Friendly
? Breeds with a higher rating in this area tend to be gentle and patient, while lower-rated breeds may feel uncomfortable with children.
0 100%
80%
Sociability
? Breeds with a higher sociability rating will want to spend time with you all day, while less-sociable breeds seldom seek out human interaction.
0 100%
80%
Intelligence
? Breeds with higher intelligence ratings are more curious, investigative, and easy to train. Less-intelligent breeds are less trainable but often laid-back and easygoing.
0 100%
80%
Playfulness
? Breeds that score higher in this area have strong hunting instincts that make them great playtime companions.
0 100%
80%
Independence
? Breeds that score higher in this area are able to spend hours alone, while less-independent breeds require plenty of attention.
0 100%
50%
Vocality
? A higher rating in this area indicates a breed prone to plenty of meowing and other vocalizations, while less-vocal breeds are happy to stay quiet.
0 100%
50%
Grooming
? Breeds with higher grooming scores require more maintenance like brushing and bathing, while lower-scored breeds are virtually maintenance-free.
0 100%
50%

Personality and Temperament

The Australian Mist has the distinction of being the first pedigreed cat ever developed in Australia.

This stunning shorthair was initially created by crossing the Abyssinian with the Burmese. The Abyssinian contributed to the breed's lively personality and ticked coat. The Burmese lent its easy-going nature and softly shaded colors. Foundation cats also included some domestic shorthairs, which contributed a wide range of genetics that ultimately led to the creation of a healthy cat breed that displays a beautiful range of colors.

Australian Mist cats have lovely short coats with spotted or marbled tabby patterns. Ticked fur gives these cats a soft, shaded appearance, leading to the use of the descriptive word "mist" in the breed name.

Renowned as a loving, even-tempered cat, the Australian Mist is understandably popular in its country of origin, and the breed is gaining even more popularity in show rings worldwide.

Read More
About the Australian Mist Cat
Australian Mist Cat Care

Care

Nutrition

<h3>Nutrition</h3>

Grooming

Grooming

Exercise

Exercise

Health

Health

The Australian Mist cat has no special nutritional needs. We recommend feeding a high-quality, high-protein food formulated for your cat's life stage and activity level.

Brush the Australian Mist's short coat once weekly with a fine comb or soft brush. Trim the nails every one to two weeks, and brush teeth daily with a pet-safe toothpaste and toothbrush.

Australian Mist cats are moderately active. Playful and curious, these cats appreciate interactive play with their human family as well as other pets in the home. Engage their bodies and minds with plenty of  indoor enrichment, including scratching posts, cat towers, perches, and toys.

There are no known inherited health problems in Australian Mist cats.

History

The Australian Mist cat was created in Australia in the 1970s by Dr. Truda Straede using Burmese, Abyssinians, and domestic short-haired cats. The cat's unique coat colors and spotted patterns led to its original name: the Spotted Mist. As the breed continue to evolve, marbled coat patterns emerged, leading to an official name change in 1998 to Australian Mist.

Australian Mist cats are widespread throughout their native country, but have yet to be widely recognized through Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Although not currently recognized by the Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA), the Australian Mist is fully recognized by The International Cat Association (TICA).

This breed's good-natured personality, general good health, and unique appearance are contributing to greater popularity outside Australia.

Australian Mist Cat History
Did You Know?

It can take up to two years for the Australian Mist to develop its coat color.

Did You Know?

Dr. Truda Straede spent nine years creating the Australian mist and receiving official registration for the breed.

Did You Know?

The Australian Mist is considered to be a rare cat breed. Even though it was developed in the 1970s, it is still considered to be a "new" cat breed in comparison with others.

About the Australian Mist Cat

The Breed Standard

Eyes

The Australian Mist has large, lustrous eyes with straight upper lids and curved lower lids. The eyes are set wide apart, and slant slightly toward the nose. Yellow cast is acceptable in kittens and cats up to 18 months of age; adult cats display eye color in any shade of green.

Legs & Paws

The legs are proportionately strong, with the hind legs being slightly longer than the front legs. The paws display a neat, oval outline. Paw pad colors correspond with coat colors.

Tail

Their tails are fairly thick in proportion to the rest of their bodies with minimal tapering.

The Breed Standard

Body

The body is of medium-large length and size. The Australian Mist cat is firm and it muscular, with a broad, round chest. The body is heavier than it appears.

Head

The head is broad and of generous proportion. It is slightly rounded with a firm chin. Channels are permitted on intact males. In profile, the nose shows a gentle dip but no distinct break.

Ears

The ears are medium to large with rounded tips and wide at the base, with a slight forward tilt. The outer line of the ears continues the modified wedge of the face.

Coat

The coat is short and glossy with a warm undercoat and a resilient feel.

Color

Australian Mist cats come in seven colors: brown, blue, chocolate, lilac, caramel, gold, and peach. The underside is lighter and rufous (reddish) toning is present on the nose, cheeks, and ears. Kittens are paler than adults. Spotted tabby and marbled tabby coat patterns are acceptable, according to Australian Mist breed standards. The spots may be of any shape or size with a random pattern, with both arrowheads and rosettes permitted. The spotted tabby shows spots of any size and shape over the sides, flanks and belly. The marble tabby shows random marbling with very little bull's-eye effect and a horizontal flow when the cat is stretched. Australian Mist cats with marbled tabby coats must also have spotted bellies. For both coat patterns, random ticking creates the appearance of a misted veil and forehead marks form a detailed letter M.

FAQ

How much does a Australian Mist cat cost?

Australian Mist cats cost between $700-$1,000.

How big do Australian Mist cats get?

Australian Mist cats tend to be medium in size. A fully grown Australian Mist cat might weigh between 7-14 pounds or more and range in height anywhere from about 8.0"-10.0" inches tall.

How long do Australian Mist cats live?

The Average lifespan for Australian Mist is 12-16 years.

Do Australian Mist cats shed?

Australian Mist are short-haired cats. Therefore, they do not shed as much as long-haired cat breeds.

Help us do better! Was this information helpful and relevant?
Yes
No
What can you say about this article?
I am completely satisfied, I found useful information and tips in this article
Article was somewhat helpful, but could be improved
Want to share more?
Thank You for the feedback! We work to make the world a better place for cats, and we're getting better for you.

FIND MORE CAT BREEDS

Related Articles

8 Gorgeous Orange Cat Breeds That Make Great Pets (With Pictures)

Orange is one of the rarer colors found in cats. Interestingly, orange cats...
Avatar photo
by Jackie Brown
Spotted tabby cat ocicat male

10 Fascinating Facts About the Spotted Tabby

Spotted tabby is one of five tabby patterns found in cats. All tabbies...
Avatar photo
by Katelynn Sobus
Gorgeous Savannah cat

10 Wild Facts About Savannah Cats

The Savannah cat is one of the most intriguing cat breeds due to...
Avatar photo
by Jackie Brown
two devon rex cat in cat trees

9 Cat Breeds That Don’t Shed (That Much)

In most cases, shedding is an inevitable part of cat ownership. It’s possible...
Avatar photo
by Jackie Brown

Egyptian Mau, The Original Domestic cat!

This fabulously spotted breed is beautiful both inside and out. Even tempered, intelligent...
Avatar photo
by Cats.com Editorial Team

Do Bobcats Make Great Pets?

The bobcat (Lynx rufus), also known as the red lynx in North America,...
Avatar photo
by Jackie Brown
Black cat with pumpkins in basket with fallen leaves

8 Benefits of Black Cats and Why You Should Adopt One

Every October, images of Halloween surround us: ghosts, jack-o’-lanterns, witches, skeletons, and, of...
Kellie B. Gormly
by Kellie B. Gormly
A dilute tortoiseshell cat with yellow eyes in a relaxed position

7 Facts About Dilute Tortoiseshell Cats That You May Not Know

Most people are familiar with the more common cat color patterns, such as...
Avatar photo
by Jackie Brown
Cute, red kitten is sleeping

What Is A Pedigreed Cat?

Are you wondering what makes a cat a pedigreed cat? Do you want...
Avatar photo
by Dr. Emma Chandley BVetMed PGCertSAS MRCVS
A brown ticked tabby cat sits in the grass, looking up at the camera.

7 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About the Ticked Tabby Cat

You might not know that cats with ticked coats, such as Abyssinians, are...
Avatar photo
by Katelynn Sobus
long living cat breeds

10 Longest-Living Cat Breeds for Furry Love That Lasts

We all wish our cats could live forever. Any cat of any breed...
Avatar photo
by Cats.com Editorial Team
hairless cat sleeping on blanket

5 Hairless Cat Breeds That Prove Bald Is Beautiful

They’re Striking. Alienesque. Eternally Nude. They’re cats without fur, and they’re more diverse...
small mallory photo
by Mallory Crusta
View All

10 thoughts on “Australian Mist”

+ Add Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  3. Ellen McCann

    I have an Australian Mist cat. She is a rescue from Petsmart. I didn’t know the breed even existed. I picked her simply because she needed a home. She is a great cat. She is very loving and gets along with my two rescue pit bulls. I don’t have a single negative thing to say about her breed.

    Reply ↓
    1. small mallory photoMallory Crusta

      Australian Mist cats are moderately-built and moderately-formed in every way, so their tails are not unusually long. However, they’re also not short or stubby. An Australian Mist cat will have a long tail just like most cats.

    1. small mallory photoMallory Crusta

      Hi Anita, while an Australian Mist cat may curve their tail slightly, a curled tail is not a part of the breed standard or a characteristic we’d expect to see from individuals of this breed.

    2. Alyse

      Do you know any breeders in California, or on the Western side of USA so we could visit or meet one. I love the description of the breeds and the pics but I’ve never meet one yet. I’m very interested please let me know. 805-304-6504 Thank you very much.

      Alyse